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Binary comparison for linux executables (ELF)

I think it would be very nice to have a plugin for comparing executable files. Under linux the ELF excutable file format contains sections that are used by the dynamic loading. The plugin must ignore those sections in order to be able to say if the file is the same or not.

Please add my vote

"Yes, I could use it" -- where to click on submit vote, checking, checking ... nope. I would definitely find this useful.

I once had to write a script that stripped DSOs and ELF binaries in different ways to generate a report comparing symbol counts and section sizes, and having this as a Beyond Compare view would be very helpful. Viewing per-section checksum and symbol-list comparisons would also be particularly useful.

BC3 supports BC2 plug-ins, but BC4 does not. Instead, it uses a new format style called External Formats, which allow calling a separate program and using the return results back in BC4. Since both methods require developing a new View, this allows the external program to be more independent and not as directly tied to BC, but still can program it to tie back into BC4.

If you need BC2/BC3 information or more info on BC4, please email into support@scootersoftware.com and we can send a sample plug-in or more info. Include a link back to this forum thread for our reference with your request.